Directed by Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness examines the life and times of wildlife enthusiast Joe Exotic. The Netflix docuseries initially focuses on the subject’s rise to fame as the star of his own internet reality show, but then transforms into a true crime series about murder, money, and manipulation. Divided into seven episodes, Tiger King includes several jaw-dropping reveals.
Tiger King explores the backstory of Joseph Schreibvogel aka Joseph Maldonado-Passage aka Joe Exotic, a loud and productive gay Oklahoman who once ran the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. The Netflix docuseries details his political ambitions, and also a long-standing dispute with fellow wildlife entrepreneur Carole Baskin – the owner of Big Cat Rescue. When Joe’s political expenses add up, he enlists a convicted felon and alleged millionaire named Jeff Lowe for assistance, hoping to mirror the success of Doc Antle, the founder of The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.). Tiger King builds to a climax in which Joe is arrested for killing his own tigers and plotting to murder the aforementioned Baskin, the self-proclaimed “Mother Theresa of Cats.”
The collective seven episodes of Tiger King shift from wildlife to television, from sex to secret government alliances. There’s a Florida drug lord subplot, and music from none other than Joe himself. At the heart of the Netflix docuseries is the subject’s self-image, and his willingness to protect his self interests at all costs. Here are the biggest reveals from Tiger King on Netflix.
Joe Exotic Had Two Husbands At One Time
In Tiger King on Netflix, Joe states that he knew he was gay at age 13. He also reveals that he purposely drove off a bridge during his teenage years, the result of a conversation with his unaccepting father. Joe later moved to Florida for therapy, and lived next to the manager of Lion Country Safari, thus sparking his interest in exotic animals. Joe then married Brian Rhyne, who passed away from HIV-related problems in 2001. Tiger King prominently features the entrepreneur’s second husband, John Finlay (above, left), whom he originally hired as a teenager in 2003.
In 2013, Joe met 19-year-old Travis Maldonado (above, right) and convinced John to agree to an open relationship. The following year, the men were married in a three-way ceremony. But Tiger King implies that neither John or Travis were actually gay, and that they were attracted to Joe’s power and what he could provide. In 2017, Travis accidentally shot himself in the head and died – a moment that’s indirectly documented in Tiger King via security footage. As for John, the Netflix docuseries reveals that he chose to distance himself from his long-time lover and boss. The final episodes of Tiger King feature Joe’s current husband, Dillon Passage, whom he married two months after Travis’ sudden death.
Mario Tabraue Was Allegedly The Prototype For Scarface
In Tiger King, Baskin speaks about Joe’s vast network of connections, including a Miami resident named Mario Tabraue – one of Florida’s most notorious drug dealers who speaks on camera in the Netflix docuseries. Now the owner of Zoological Wildlife Foundation Miami, Tabraue notes that Baskin uses him as “poster child” for people that shouldn’t have animals because of their criminal past. Tabraue then states that “I did my time for what I did,” presumably a reference to what’s now known as “Operation Cobra.”
One of Tabraue’s employees, Mark McCarthy, discusses his boss’ reputation in Tiger King. He states that people would drive by his house and scream “Tony Montana,” a reference to the 1983 film Scarface featuring Al Pacino in the title role. With a monkey literally hanging on his neck, Tabraue says “Sometimes they say that I’m the prototype for Scarface.” Tiger King underlines the parallels between his life and the movie character Tony Montana, most notably the murder of a federal agent via chainsaw. He says, “You know, I really didn’t do most of the stuff, but I carry the stigma of it.” Tabraue was given a 100-year sentence for his crimes, but won an appeal and only served 12 years.
Doc Antle Runs A Cult-Like Organization
In Tiger King, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle is described as a doctor of “mystical science” by Tabraue’s wife Maria, but he’s mostly known for his wildlife work. Various interviewees in the Netflix docuseries suggest that Doc has several wives, but the main takeaway, initially, is that Joe modeled his persona and business practices after the man. Doc proudly tells the filmmakers that “You can’t get into my complex lifestyle. It’s not for prime time.” Despite his friendly demeanor, however, it’s implied that he’s secretly a manipulative, cult-like figure.
Interviews with Doc’s former apprentice, Barbara Fisher, reveal that the T.I.G.E.R.S. organization is sold as a “utopia” to young women, with promises of yoga and a vegetarian lifestyle. Doc allegedly requests that employees call him “Bhagavan,” which – according to Fisher – actually means “Lord.” Fisher also states that she lived in a cockroach-infested horse stall, and that Doc’s goal was allegedly to make women feel like garbage so they’d be inclined “to get to the top really quickly.” Early on in Tiger King, he’s compared to Joe and described as “much more sophisticated, much smarter.” The final Netflix episode implies that Doc uses a gas chamber to kill unusable tiger cubs, and then cremates them.
Joe Exotic Believes That Carole Baskin Killed Her Husband
Much of Tiger King focuses on Joe’s multi-year quest to expose Baskin as a fraud. At times, he makes articulate comments about how the Big Cat Rescue founder uses her social media influence to create a false narrative, or to recruit employee for cheap. But then it’s revealed that Joe essentially plagiarized her company’s logo (and name) by creating Big Cat Rescue Entertainment. In addition, Joe speaks profanely of Carole on his internet show, and even simulates her murder. His on-going antics set up the legal battle that’s referenced throughout the final episodes of the Netflix docuseries.
Tiger King suggests that Baskkin might’ve killed her first husband, a multimillionaire named Jack Donald Lewis, who disappeared in 1997. And that’s the reason for Joe’s wrath, it seems, as he believes that Baskin gained power due to inherited wealth and questionable business practices. Tiger King details how Lewis fell in love with Carole in 1981, and then left his wife. In 1997, Lewis sought out a restraining order against Baskin just two months before he disappeared. According to many interviewees in Tiger King, logic suggests that Baskin had Lewis eliminated for financial reasons, and possibly even fed him to tigers. Yet Baskin defends herself and makes the case that Lewis likely crashed his small plane while flying illegally to Costa Rica.
Joe Exotic Is A Real Country Recording Artist
Joe has released 28 recorded songs and 16 music videos, many of which are featured in Tiger King. The country productions allowed him to build his pop culture persona, along with self-serving agendas. But while the Netflix docuseries shows that Joe has a respectable singing voice, many viewers will notice that the tone doesn’t match his natural speaking voice. And that’s because Joe reportedly lip-syncs and doesn’t actually sing in the recordings.
Jeff Lowe Is A Real Piece Of Work
In Tiger King, Jeff Lowe is framed as a con artist swinger who befriended Joe and then claimed that he ordered a contract killing of Baskin. In 2015, the duo established a business relationship when Lowe claimed that he could save Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. Lowe speaks calmly in Tiger King, and presents a youthful appearance, yet the final half of the Netflix docuseries heavily implies that the entrepreneur often presented an image that didn’t match his bank account. Still, Lowe plays the part of powerful millionaire, and was the reason that Joe decided to leave the wildlife industry.
Lowe claims that he became upset when discovering that Joe had been using park money for his political campaigns. To avoid any legal problems, Lowe then became a federal informant due to his business partner’s erratic behavior. But the majority of interviewees in Tiger King suggest that Lowe orchestrated the proposed murder of Baskin, and also hired a hitman. Lowe even acknowledges that Baskin’s death would’ve been better for business overall. According to many people in Tiger King, it’s only a matter of time until the past catches up with Lowe, but the man does indeed defend himself throughout the Netflix docuseries.
Joe Exotic Went To Prison In 2020
Tiger King documents the events that made Joe Exotic leave Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. After a meeting with Lowe, he decided to relocate numerous animals and burn paperwork, presumably because he realized that federal agents were investigating him. According to Lowe, Joe was responsible for initiating a plan to kill Baskin. In the Tiger King finale, Joe is charged and convicted of 17 counts of animal abuse, two counts of murder-for-hire, and receives a 22-year prison sentence. He claims that tigers were killed at Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park because they were sick, and also reveals that he’s keeping a list of 37 names that will be provided to PETA.
